When we tell someone to “act your age,” we’re asking them to behave in a way that’s expected for someone of their age. It’s like saying, “Behave maturely” or “Don’t act like a child.”
Here are two examples in sentences:
Example 1:
“When the university students started a food fight in the cafeteria, the dean told them to act their age.”
Example 2:
“Anna’s dad told her to act her age when she started whining about not getting the toy she wanted.”
Now, let’s see two examples in a conversation:
Example 3:
Paul: I can’t believe Jim threw a tantrum just because he lost the game.
Mark: Yeah, he really needs to act his age.
Example 4:
Emily: Mom, Tom keeps pulling my hair!
Mother: Tom, act your age! You’re not a little kid anymore.
So, when we say “act your age,” we’re asking someone to behave more maturely and appropriately for their age. It’s a reminder that we should behave in a way that reflects our age and maturity.
